Citizen Connect: Cracks on twin overbridge lead to accidents at Perambur Loco Works

The cracks that had appeared on the bridge that was constructed in 2011 remained unattended for the last two years despite repeated complaints from the local residents.

“After noticing the cracks in the bridge in 2017, I had complained to the Chennai Corporation authorities. But till date, no action was taken on it. As the authorities kept neglecting it, the cracks have widened over the year,” said GC Vivek Krishnan, a resident of Gandhi Nagar in the Perambur Loco. He said that several accidents have happened when motorists try to avoid the crack. “Quite often, two-wheeler riders would skid and fall while trying to avoid the crack on the road,” he said.

When the 4.3-metre wide bridge that was existing there for over five decades was found to be too narrow to accommodate the growing volume of traffic, the new bridge was constructed adjacent to it to ease traffic congestion. It serve as a vital link for the residents of Peravallur, Kolathur, Ayanavaram and ICF. The new bridge carries traffic from Peravallur to Ayanavaram side while the vehicles from Ayanavaram use the old bridge.

Prabhu Kumar, a resident of Peravallur said that while the roads leading to the over bridge was re-laid every year, the bridge was not maintained at all. “The road surface on the bridge remained damaged, which forces vehicles to move very slowly resulting in traffic snarls during peak hours,” he said.

The overbridge is also used by the commuters who travel by the local trains at Perambur Loco Works Station. “Shrubs have grown all over the footpath hindering movement of the pedestrians,” K Venkadesan who works at Perambur Loco Works said. He added that persons working in the Loco use the footpath to get in and out of the railway station. “We have even asked our management to clear the shrubs, but no steps were taken,” he said.

When asked, a Greater Chennai Corporation official said that they would take up the bridge repairing work immediatelyafter the model code of conduct was lifted.